J.B. J.W.B. v. Sacred Heart Hosp., Pensacola

Full title: J.B. AND J.W.B., INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF THEIR MINOR CHILD, S.B. AND…

Court: United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Date published: Jul 28, 1994

27 F.3d 506 (11th Cir. 1994)

Opinion

No. 92-2053.

July 28, 1994.

Ballay Braud, Cynthia Davidson, Charles J. Ballay and Adrian A. Colon, Jr., Belle Chasse, LA, for appellants.

Emmanuel, Sheppard Condon, A.G. Condon, Jr. and Karen O. Emmanuel, Pensacola, FL, for appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida (No. 91-30125RV), Roger Vinson, Judge.

Before TJOFLAT, Chief Judge, CARNES, Circuit Judge, and BRIGHT^_, Senior Circuit Judge.

_ Honorable Myron H. Bright, Senior U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, sitting by designation.

PER CURIAM:

Following oral argument, we certified the following two questions to the Supreme Court of Florida:

1. DOES A COMPLAINT WHICH ALLEGES INJURIES TO THE BROTHER OF A HOSPITAL PATIENT ALLEGEDLY ARISING OUT OF THE DEFENDANT HOSPITAL'S FAILURE TO WARN THE PLAINTIFF BROTHER OF THE PATIENT'S INFECTIOUS DISEASE, FAILURE TO PROPERLY INSTRUCT THE PLAINTIFF REGARDING TRANSPORTATION OF THE PATIENT, AND NEGLIGENTLY USING THE NON-PATIENT BROTHER AS A TRANSPORTER FOR THE PATIENT FALL WITHIN FLA. STAT. § 95.11(4)(b), THE TWO-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ACTIONS?

2. DOES CHAPTER 766 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES APPLY TO SUCH A CAUSE OF ACTION?

J.B. v. Sacred Heart Hosp., 996 F.2d 276, 278 (11th Cir. 1993). Our earlier opinion contains a statement of the relevant facts and proceedings, which need not be repeated here.

The Florida Supreme Court has now answered both questions in the negative. J.B. v. Sacred Heart Hosp., 635 So.2d 945 (Fla. 1994). In light of the Florida Supreme Court's opinion, we REVERSE the district court's order granting Appellee's motion to dismiss Appellant's complaint, and REMAND for further proceedings in accordance with Florida law.